Tigers expected to offer contract to Delmon Young as tender deadline nears

AP File PhotoTigers outfielder Delmon Young (right) hit .274 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 40 games for Detroit this season.

The Tigers are still expected to tender a contract on Monday to Delmon Young, despite a whirlwind of trade rumors involving the 26-year-old outfielder.

Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski said last week the club would not non-tender Young, who earned $5.38 million this season. He is expected to receive a salary bump upwards of $1 million next season.

Players that are not tendered a contract become free agents. The official deadline is midnight, but the Tigers could make an announcement earlier than that.

If the Tigers tender a contract to Young, it’s not a certainty he will remain in Detroit next season.

According to Bowden, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez “still wants a big bat in the middle of his lineup, and the Braves might have to circle back to a trade they already declined.”

Bowden suggested Young could be a 20-home run, 100-RBI player, but defensive limitations make him less attractive, especially in the National League. He hit .274 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs in 40 games for Detroit this season.

Similarly, there are a couple free-agent outfielders who the Tigers have reportedly expressed interest in -- including Coco Crisp -- that offer alternatives to the heavy-hitting Young.

The Tigers would love to add speed atop their lineup and Crisp would seemingly fill the leadoff vacancy. This past season with the A's, the switch-hitting center fielder set a career high with a league-leading 49 stolen bases.

Crisp would, in effect, replace Young in left field and replace Austin Jackson as the club’s leadoff hitter. Crisp, a career .275 hitter, batted .264 with eight homers, 54 RBIs and 69 runs this season.

If the Tigers are successful in unloading Young, the big question is whether they would be willing to offer Crisp a multi-year deal that would likely exceed $9 million.